Articles by Graham Smith

Graham Smith reviews the first-generation BMW 1 Series as a used buy.

The FZ Swift released in 2011 was an evolutionary model explained Suzuki executives when trying to justify the little apparent visual change from the EZ model that preceded it. So successful had the EZ been that they simply wanted to build on it rather than reinvent the wheel with an entirely new model was their very

Graham Smith reviews the 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012 Toyota Camry as a used buy.

Mazda has been the standout performer over the last decade or so when its cars have gone from "who cares" to "must haves" in a very short period of time. New It began with the ground breaking 3, continued with the 6, and then followed on with the mini 2. Sales of small cars like the Mazda2 have soared as Australians

It seems the Lancer has been around forever, much like the Toyota Corolla, but unlike the small Toyota it has never commanded a lot of attention from buyers. Those who know recognise it as a solid, well-built, reliable small car that makes sense, but it's a car that has blended into the background rather than stand

The Jazz arrived here in 2002 and quickly won fans with its easy driving nature and roomy and flexible cabin.

Graham Smith reviews the used 2010-2013 Kia Sportage, its fine points, its flaws and what to watch for when you are buying it.

Graham Smith road tests and reviews the used 2009-2013Honda Odyssey.

It seems everyone wants to go bush. Ford certainly thought so when it introduced its Territory, so too did Holden when it went down the same track with the Adventra.The Adventra was based on the VY Berlina wagon. It had a high-riding suspension for ground clearance, and a V8 automatic drivetrain, and an all-wheel drive system that gave it the capability off-road.Cross Trac was a permanent all-wheel drive system using three open differentials controlled by sophisticated electronics with a front-to-rear torque-split of 38:62.It's a system built on the car's anti-skid braking system to maintain traction by monitoring the grip at each wheel and selectively applying the brakes to switch torque away from wheels that are starting to slip to ones that have grip.Being based on a traditional wagon the Adventra is different to most off-roaders and should appeal to anyone who wants to drive a normal car around town, but still have the capability to go bush when they want to.Power for the first Adventra came from Holden's proven 235kW 5.7-litre V8 and four-speed automatic transmission.With the Cross Trac system a full-time one there's no call for fiddling with switches or levers to select low range, lock diffs, or do any of the other things off-roaders have to cope with.Ground clearance is critical to off-road driving and the Adventra had 200mm. There was also a front strut brace, a sump guard, and special Bridgestone tyres with thicker tread faces and sidewalls to handle the rough going.Being based on the Berlina meant the Adventra came equipped with plenty of standard features to add to its attraction.The Adventra was made to go off-road, so check for signs of off-road use and move on if you spot anything that says the car you're considering has been used extensively off-road.The initial offering was only available as a V8, and the V8 wasn't without it troubles.Listen particularly for rattles and noises from the engine. They were relatively common, but not all suffered, so look for one that is quiet.The V8 could also burn oil. That's a little more difficult to determine on a quick test drive. You could ask the seller if the car was an oil burner, or had been checked by a Holden dealer.Weight was also an issue with the Adventra, it was a heavy jigger, and that meant the fuel consumption could be high.If you're looking for diesel economy look elsewhere, but driven sensibly the Adventra would return reasonable economy.Importantly it had the grunt needed to comfortably tow a caravan or camper trailer when needed.A recent trip to outback South Australia in an LX8 with a camper trailer on the back returned an average of 15.5L/100 km, and that wasn't sparing the ponies.The Adventra was equipped with special tyres designed to cope with rough, rocky roads, and they're a mite more expensive than your regular tyres.Servicing is also important, so check for a service record to show your chosen car has been well maintained.

The decision to go all all-wheel-drive was a momentous one for Subaru. From a company building cars that no one really cared about it went to one that everyone wanted to know.If the hot rally-bred WRX led the charge it was the Liberty that did the hard yards in getting Subaru's name on the shopping lists of Australian buyers.The Gen 3 was a mid-sized model aimed at middle Australia. It was a family-sized car for people tired of the regular diet of Commodores and Falcons.It was a pleasant looking, sensible car, one that has stood the test of time and still looks attractive even today.The Liberty came in sedan and wagon forms, with three main specification levels in the GX, RX, and Heritage.Inside there was room enough for a normal family, mum and dad had plenty of room up front, and the kids were comfortably accommodated in the back.The Liberty came in sedan and wagon forms, with three main specification levels in the GX, RX, and Heritage.Two engines were offered, both flat-fours in the style Subaru had long used.A modest 2.0-litre single-overhead camshaft engine opened the bidding with 92kW and 184Nm. It was no ball of fire, but with an average fuel consumption of less than 9.0L/100km there was a lot to like about it.The other engine option was a single-overhead camshaft 2.5-litre unit that boasted 115kW and 223Nm, The extra torque not only boosted the Liberty's performance, but it also endowed it with an easy-driving flexibility. Fuel consumption increased, but was still only a touch over 9.0L/100 km.The transmission choices were straightforward, a five-speed manual and a no-fuss four-speed automatic, and the drive went through all four wheels.On the road the Liberty was well balanced with a reassuring grip on the road.It needs to be said straight up that the Gen 3 Liberty is getting on in years, the earliest 15 years old, and the kays are climbing, with many cars well over the 200,000km mark by now.Be choosy; don't buy any old Liberty you come acrossThat means they should be approached with caution, and patience needs to be employed when out shopping for a suitable car.Be choosy; don't buy any old Liberty you come across, look for the one in the best condition, with the lowest kays on the clock, and with a believable history.Having done 200,000-plus kays you have to understand that a car, any car, is nearer the end of the road than the starting grid, so buy in the knowledge that you are likely to be back in the market looking for another car in a couple of years.But that can be fine for some people, like parents shopping for a starter car for their kids who are hitting the road for the first time.For them the most important attributes are safety, low running costs, and reliability, and their kids are likely to be wanting to move on up in the motoring world in a short period of time.Being all-wheel drive the Liberty is miles ahead of other cars liked by youngsters, cars like the Commodore and Falcon, when it comes to safety. In the hands of a novice driver rear-wheel drive Commodores and Falcons can be lethal weapons, whereas the all-wheel drive Liberty is much less likely to bite them when they least expect it.Check for a service record to make sure your chosen car has been well maintainedLook for smoke issuing from the exhaust pipe when accelerating, it could signal wear in the engine and should be a warning.With more than 200,000km up most Gen 3 Liberties could do with an automatic transmission service, so consider doing that for ongoing reliability, even if the transmission checks out ok when driven.Check for a service record to make sure your chosen car has been well maintained, but the service record is a good way of confirming the odometer reading is credible.A service record will also be able to confirm that the timing belts have been changed as required at 160,000 km.